Biden: 'A lot can go wrong' on immigration

6/20/13 10:44 PM EDT

Vice President Joe Biden told a Hispanic audience in Las Vegas Thursday that “a lot can go wrong” on immigration before Congress breaks for the Independence Day holiday.

Speaking to the League of United Latin American Citizens, Biden delivered his standard immigration remarks, calling comprehensive reform a cause the whole nation already supports. But with his optimism he offered a warning, that Congress can still derail a process he described as 90 percent complete.

“For overwhelming practical and moral reasons, we’ve got to pass this legislation,” Biden said. “For those of you who are football fans know the last 10 yards are the hardest yards, a hell of lot harder than the first 90. We’re on the 10 yard line, maybe the five, and a lot can go wrong between now and the Fourth of July recess.”

Biden made no reference to the day’s Senate debate about an proposed amendment that would double the number of the Border Patrol agents, but instead gave ample mention to the Congressional Budget Office report that concluded reform would be an economic boost for the country.

And he delivered his standard history of American immigration politics – saying that a “small minority” has always greeted newcomers with the very hostilities they once faced.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from, there’s an element of America that always wants to close the door behind you,” Biden said.

Biden is scheduled speak again Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, where he will address the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

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Donovan Slack

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Buzz

"As long as walls exist in our hearts to separate us from those who don’t look like us or think like us or worship as we do, then we are going to have to work harder together to bring those walls of division down."